World powers close to agreement on Iran resolution

PanARMENIAN.Net - World powers look set to overcome their differences and agree on a UN atomic agency resolution aimed at putting diplomatic pressure on Iran to address mounting fears about its nuclear program, Western diplomats said on Wednesday, November 16.

The fact that the six major powers seem close to an agreement on a joint text will be welcomed in the West after a UN nuclear report last week exposed divisions with Russia on how to best handle the long-running dispute with Tehran, according to Reuters.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report, which gave independent credibility to Western allegations, set out a mass of intelligence suggesting Iran was seeking the capability to adapt nuclear material for use in weaponry.

The proposed resolution would express concern about Iran's atomic activities and call on the Islamic state to resolve issues raised by the UN agency, asking IAEA chief Yukiya Amano to report back to the next board meeting in March.

It is expected to be formally submitted on Thursday at the start of a two-day meeting of the 35-nation governing board of the IAEA, the Vienna-based U.N. nuclear body. If the big powers are behind it, its adoption is virtually guaranteed.

Western countries faced a dilemma ahead of this week's IAEA governors meeting: press for a strongly worded resolution and risk Russian and Chinese opposition, or accept a weaker text in order to preserve big-power unity.